Oystercatcher crossing

Twice each day the volunteers needed to shut down the lagoon to allow the little chick to swim across without being skittled by watercraft or being forced to turn back and risk being drowned in the mangroves with the rising tide. The chick also risked being stuck on the blazing hot beach which could result in it starving or dehydrating.

The two parent birds would lead the chick out and dad would fly across to the other side. Mum would escort chick for as long as she could stand and then she would fly across. Both mum and dad would take turns flying over the little chick, calling encouragement.

Here is a video showing the site that the volunteers were managing.